On the IUPAC nomenclature of ethers and esters

[fakecop]

Hello,

I was wondering if there is a systematic procedure to follow when naming complex organic molecules containing ethers and esters. By "complex" I mean organic molecules that contain multiple ether/ester groups and possibly within multiple different branches of the molecule.

1.How to determine the alkoxy/alkyl groups when there are multiple ether linkages in the molecule?
E.g. CH2---O---CH2CH3CH2---O---CH3CH2CH2---O---CH2

-Similarly, how to name the alkyl group when there are multiple ester groups in the molecule?
E.g. CH3---COO---CH2CH3CH2---COO---CH3


2.How to name the alkoxy group when it contains an aldehyde or carboxylic acid?
E.g. COOH---CH2---O---CH2---COOH
I'm guessing that I'd have to switch to prefix notation, so the compound above would be called
"2-carboxymethoxyethanoic acid" or "dicarboxymethyl ether"?

If that is the case, how would you name the ether if the carboxyl/oxo group is directly attached to the Oxygen, like this:
COOH --O -- COOH or CHO --O --CHO ?

3. How do you name aldehydes/carboxylic acids joined by an ester?
E.g. CHO---CH2---COO---CH2---COOH
So now do I have to switch to prefix form for both groups? Thus, would this molecule be named
"carboxylmethyl 3-oxopropanoate"?

My textbook and most sources on the internet only covers the simple stuff. Please help me.
(I apologize for the messy diagrams but there is no LaTex symbols for organic chemistry)

 

[jbsteele]

There are a few general rules and conventions to follow when naming ethers and esters.1. When there are multiple ether/ester groups in a molecule, the alkoxy/alkyl groups attached to the oxygen/carbon atoms should be named in alphabetical order. For example, in the molecule CH2---O---CH2CH3CH2---O---CH3CH2CH2---O---CH2, the alkoxy groups would be named as methoxy, ethoxy and propoxy, respectively. Similarly, in the molecule CH3---COO---CH2CH3CH2---COO---CH3, the alkyl groups would be named as methyl, ethyl and propyl, respectively. 2. When an alkoxy/alkyl group contains an aldehyde or carboxylic acid, it should be named using prefix notation. In the molecule COOH---CH2---O---CH2---COOH, the alkoxy group would be named as carboxymethoxyethanoic acid. In the case of CHO --O --CHO, the alkoxy group would be named as formylmethoxyethanoic acid.3. When aldehydes/carboxylic acids are joined by an ester, the group should be named using prefix notation. In the molecule CHO---CH2---COO---CH2---COOH, the group would be named as carboxylmethyl 3-oxopropanoate.